Test probe

ABSTRACT

A probe includes at least one core and at least one sense coil associated with the core. The ends of the core are arranged in a contact-free, spaced relationship between opposed surfaces of adjacent lamination teeth of a stator. Air gaps are maintained between the ends of the probe core and the opposed surfaces. The total of the two air gaps is constant. The probe is supported on a carriage arrangement and moved along the teeth. Variations in leakage flux produced with the stator energized with an energization winding to produce a flux which is a few percent of is normal energization level, are monitored.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates generally to the diagnosis and monitoring of the operation of electrical apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a probe or sensor arrangement which facilitates the detection of flaws/imperfections in electrical apparatus such as stator cores of large generators, and which requires the stator to be energized only to a low level for detection purposes.

[0002] In the field of generating electricity on a commercial scale it is important that elements of the power generating system forming part of a 50˜1 000-MVA power generating arrangement, for example, remain fully functional over their expected working life so that unexpected downtimes and/or catastrophic failures can be avoided. To avoid such problems it is important that elements such as the large stators, which form part of the above-mentioned generating systems be, carefully inspected and tested either during regular periodic maintenance or before being sold and installed in a power generating installation.

[0003] The stator core 30 of electric machines (such as schematically depicted in FIG. 1) utilizes thin insulated steel laminations 32 to reduce the eddy current flow for higher efficiency operation. The laminations are, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, stacked vertically by placing a dovetail grooves 34 of the laminations in the dovetail of a key bar 36, which is attached to the frame. To hold the laminations together and to prevent lamination vibration, the core is axially clamped with a force of about 300˜350 psi.

[0004] Shorting of the laminations 32 can be caused by manufacturing defects, damage during assembly/inspection/rewind, stator-rotor contact, vibration of loose coil wedges/laminations, foreign magnetic material, etc. If the laminations 32 are shorted for any reason, a larger circulating current is induced in the fault loop that consists of fault-laminations-key bar (see FIG. 2). The typical fault locations are shown in FIG. 3. The circulating fault current increases with the number of shorted laminations and the conductivity between the laminations and the short/key bar. The fault current increases the power dissipation in the stator core and causes localized heating. The hot spots can progress to more severe localized heating and eventually cause burning or melting of the laminations. As a result, the stator bar insulation and windings can also be damaged causing ground current flow through the stator core. Therefore, inter-laminar core faults should be detected and repaired to prevent further damage and to improve the reliability of generator operation.

[0005] In order to detect imperfections in the stator core construction various tests have been developed.

[0006] The so called “ring test” relies upon the detection of the eddy current heating caused by the short circuit currents. The generator core is wound with a number of turns (typically less than 10) of cable to form toroidal shaped excitation windings 31 in the manner schematically depicted in FIG. 1. The current level in the windings is chosen such that the flux driven in the core is near normal operating levels (approximately 1˜1.5 Tesla). The excitation requirement is at the several MVA level, since several hundred amperes and volts in the coil are needed to achieve the desired flux. The core 30 is operated in this manner for several hours. Thermal imaging cameras are then used to find “hot spots” on the inner stator surface. These hot spots indicate the location of the inter-lamination short circuits.

[0007] However, short circuits that are located below the surface of the stator teeth 37 and slots are difficult to find, since thermal diffusion causes the surface temperature rise to become diffuse/spread out. Because of the high power levels used in the ring test, personnel cannot enter the bore of the stator core during testing. Further, cables used in the test must be appropriately sized for the MVA level, which leads to long setup and removal times.

[0008] With this type of test, the high flux used is a cause for concern because: The high currents (100's of amperes and several KVs) are needed require a test supply capable of several MVA. The high current and voltage levels require care in the selection and installation of the excitation winding on the generator core and obscures parts of the core. Because the heating test is run on a core that is deprived of its normal cooling system, excessive heating can lead to core damage. The high current and voltage levels impact operator safety, and as mentioned above personnel are not allowed to enter the core interior when a ring test is running.

[0009] To overcome the above-mentioned shortcomings which tend to be encountered with the ring test, the so called “EL CID” (Electromagnetic Core Imperfection Detection) test was developed.

[0010] This test relies upon detection of the magnetic field caused by the short circuit currents that flow due to inter-lamination short circuits. As in the ring test, the generator core is wound with a number of turns in the manner of a toroid. The current level in the windings is chosen such that the core operates at approximately 4% of the normal operating flux. This corresponds to about a 5 volt/meter electric field induced along the core surface. The current requirement is in the 10-30 ampere range, so that a rather simple power supply of several kVA can be used. A magnetic potentiometer, referred to as a Chattock coil after its inventor, is used to sense the magnetic fields produced between two adjacent teeth by the short circuit currents that are induced in the inter-lamination insulation faults.

[0011] The Chattock coil (a.k.a. Maxwell worm or magnetic potentiometer) is used to sense the phase quadrature component of the magnetic field produced by any induced inter-laminar currents. Chattock coil voltages equivalent to those produced by a 100 mA or larger test current are used as the indicator for a severe inter-laminar short for the 4% flux excitation level.

[0012] The Chattock coil 38 typically spans the width of two adjacent teeth 37 in the manner shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and is moved along the surface of the stator either by hand or by a robotic carriage. Because the short circuit current path is largely resistive, the magnetic flux created by the short circuit is in phase quadrature with the exciting flux. The signal from the Chattock coil is combined with a reference signal derived from the excitation current so that phase sensitive detection methods can be used to extract the fault signal from the background noise.

[0013] A fully digital EL CID system has been developed. This system exhibits improved noise suppression over the previous analog arrangements. Nevertheless, there are a number of anomalies and distortions which can arise when performing the EL CID test, and these must be interpreted using knowledge and experience of core construction.

[0014] The EL CID test involves exciting the core in a manner similar to that of the ring test, but uses much lower voltage and current levels. A flux of 4-5% is normal. The EL CID test procedure exhibits the following characteristics. The current required for this flux can be obtained from a variable transformer that is supplied from a standard electrical outlet. The induced voltage from this low flux is kept to about 5 volts/meter, so personnel can enter the core during the EL CID test to make observations. The induced currents at this flux are low enough not to cause excessive heating, so additional core damage due to testing is not a concern.

[0015] The EL CID test is better able to find inter-laminar faults which are located below the surface. This is a significant advantage over the ring test that relies upon thermal diffusion from the interior hot spot in order to provide detection. However, this test is such that the signal level in the coil results in high noise levels, especially when scanning in the end step region.

[0016] Another type of sensor arrangement is disclosed in USSR Inventor's Certificate No. RU 2082274 C1. This arrangement is directed to improving the sensitivity of the method and improving the interpretation and reliability of results. As depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7, it consists of a magnetizing winding 40, a device 42 for regulating the current in the winding and two sensors 44, 46. Each of these two sensors 44, 46 comprises, as shown in FIG. 6, a coil 48 wound onto a thin plate core 50 of ferromagnetic material with high magnetic permeability. The sensors 44, 46 have the same construction, however, one is used as a reference probe and the other is used as a scanning probe.

[0017] The outputs of the two sensors 44, 46 are connected to independent inputs of a phase shift device 52 which acts as a phase monitor and wherein the phase difference between the voltages of the two sensor units is used as a fault indicator. The outputs of the phase shift device are supplied to a personal computer (PC) or similar type of device via an A/D converter 54.

[0018] The two sensors 44, 46 can be supported on a triangular carriage arrangement 56 shown in FIG. 8 and thus moved through the interior of the stator under the control of a position control device 58, as shown in RU 2082274 C1.

[0019] However, this arrangement suffers from several drawbacks. It is sensitive to gap variation due to probe location. The magnitude and phase of the measured signal is very sensitive to the gap between lamination and probe (gap variation is an inherent limitation due to lamination surface roughness). That is to say:

[0020] Magnitude of V_(sense)∝1/gap;

[0021] Phase of V_(sense)∝tan⁻¹(const/gap)

[0022] It is additionally difficult to scan and diagnose in the end step region (see FIG. 12 for example) of a stator core since the location makes it difficult to scan while maintaining a constant gap in the end step region.

[0023] Further, it is difficult, if not impossible, to construct a universal probe design. Since the teeth project inwardly into the interior from the inner cylindrical surface of the stator, they are inclined by a predetermined amount toward each other. Thus, the flat ferromagnetic core members 50 must be slightly angled and have a very shallow V-shape in order for each end of the RU 2082274 C1 arrangement to sit flat on the top of a tooth. With the change in diameter of a stator core, the angle and distance between the teeth vary and it is necessary for both the length and the angle of the shallow V-shape to vary. A change in the number of teeth also induces a change in the angle defined between the tops of two adjacent teeth, and thus induces the same problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0024] A first aspect of the invention resides in a probe for detecting abnormalities in an electrical device having a structure through which leakage flux passes, comprising: a sense coil; and a probe core disposed with the sense coil and configured so that first and second sensing end portions of the core are supported in a spaced contact-free relationship between opposed adjacent surfaces of portions of the electrical device to form first and second air gaps between the first and second sensing end portions of the core and the respective surfaces adjacent

[0025] A second aspect of the invention resides in a method of detecting faults in an electrical device comprising the steps of: supporting a probe, having a solid core and a coil disposed with the core, so that sensing portions of the core are maintained in a contact-free, spaced relationship between adjacent surfaces of members which form part of the device through which leakage flux passes; energization of the device to a predetermined level which is lower than a normal operating level and thus producing a leakage flux; detecting a leakage flux which occurs between the opposed surfaces using the probe; moving the probe to a new position with respect to the opposed surfaces and detecting a leakage flux at the new position; and monitoring the fluctuation in probe output and detecting a fault in response to the detection of an abnormal leakage flux.

[0026] A further aspect of the invention resides in an apparatus for detecting faults in an electrical device comprising: means for supporting a probe, which has a solid core and a coil disposed with the core, so that sensing end portions of the core are maintained in a contact-free, spaced relationship between opposed surfaces of members which form part of the device through which leakage flux passes; means for inducing energization of the device to a predetermined level which is lower than a normal operating level; means responsive to the probe for detecting a leakage flux which occurs between the opposed surfaces; means for moving the probe to a new location with respect to the opposed surfaces and detecting leakage flux at the new location; and means for monitoring the fluctuation in probe output and determining a presence and location of a fault in response to the detection of an abnormal leakage flux fluctuation.

[0027] Another aspect of the invention resides in an apparatus for detecting faults in an electrical device comprising: a single probe having a core of a material having high initial permeability and high resistivity characteristics, and a coil disposed with the core, the probe being adapted to be supported so that all sensing portions of the core are maintained in a contact-free spaced relationship between predetermined opposed surfaces of the electrical device and so that the sensing portions of the core are exposed to leakage flux which is produced by the electrical device and which passes between the opposed surfaces and through air gaps defined between the opposed surfaces and the sensing portions of the core; an excitation winding removably disposed with the electrical device and operatively connected with a source of excitation voltage for inducing a flux in an electrical circuit in the electrical device; and a data acquisition system operatively connected with the excitation winding and the sensor coil for monitoring the output of the sensor and detecting faults in the electrical device which cause change in the leakage flux.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028]FIG. 1 is perspective schematic view of a stator core such as that to which the embodiments of the sensor arrangement are applicable.

[0029]FIGS. 2 and 3 are respectively side and front view of stator laminations depicting the manner in which the stator core is constructed from a plurality of thin insulated steel laminations, which are connected to the frame of the stator by way of dovetail grooves and key bars.

[0030]FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of two stator teeth which are being examined using an EL CID type sensor arrangement and which depicts the leakage flux which is produced when there is no fault associated with the teeth.

[0031]FIG. 5 is a schematic front view of two stator teeth which are being examined using the EL CID type sensor arrangement and which depicts the leakage flux which is produced when there is fault associated with the teeth.

[0032]FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the RU 2082274 C1 prior art sensor arrangement referred to in the opening paragraphs of this disclosure.

[0033]FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the manner in which the two sensors which are used with the RU 2082274 C1 arrangement, are deployed in a stator core along with the circuitry associated with the testing procedure.

[0034]FIG. 8 is a prior art carriage arrangement which is used in connection with the sensors and which is disclosed in RU 2082274 C1,

[0035]FIG. 9 is a schematic front view showing the deployment of a probe or sensor according to an embodiment of the invention and depicting the leakage flux which occurs in the absence of a fault.

[0036]FIG. 10 is a schematic front view similar to that shown in FIG. 9, but which depicts the situation wherein a fault has occurred and the leakage flux has changed accordingly.

[0037]FIG. 11 is a schematic front view showing an example of a carriage arrangement which can be used to support and move the sensor/probe arrangement in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

[0038]FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing the sensor being moved through a stator toward the end step region wherein the diameter of the teeth reduce.

[0039]FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a circuit arrangement which can be used in conjunction with the sensor/probe arrangement to detect the fluctuation in leakage flux.

[0040]FIGS. 14 and 15 are schematic depictions of stators which demonstrate how the excitation coil can be disposed with respect to sensor position to reduce noise during examination of the stator.

[0041]FIG. 16 is an example of a phasor diagram showing characteristics which are obtained with a fault free or healthy core system.

[0042]FIG. 17 is a compound schematic diagram depicting sensor position and signals which are obtained with healthy lamination arrangement.

[0043]FIG. 18 is an example of a phasor diagram which is produced when a sub-wedge fault condition is detected.

[0044]FIG. 19 is a compound schematic diagram depicting sensor position and signals which are obtained when a sub-wedge fault condition is detected.

[0045]FIG. 20 is an example of a phasor diagram which is produced when a surface fault condition is detected; and

[0046]FIG. 21 is a compound schematic diagram depicting sensor position and the signals which are obtained in the presence of a surface fault condition.

[0047]FIGS. 22 and 23 are respectively plan and front views showing an alternative embodiment of a carriage arrangement which can be used to support and move the sensor/probe arrangement according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0048] In brief, a disclosed embodiment of the invention comprises, a probe which includes a core and a sense coil surrounding the core. The core is disposed in a contact-free, spaced relationship between opposed surfaces of the device. These surfaces can be the side walls of adjacent lamination teeth of a stator. Small air gaps are carefully maintained between the ends of the core and the opposed surfaces. The effects of probe position are minimized since the net gap is constant. The probe is supported on a carriage arrangement and moved along between the teeth. Variations in leakage flux produced with the stator energized with an energization winding to a few percent of normal energization level, are monitored.

[0049] FIGS. 9-13 show a preferred embodiment of the invention. In this arrangement, the sensor or probe 100 consists of a ferromagnetic sense core 102 that is disposed through a sense coil 104. The sense coil 104 is connected with a circuit arrangement 106 of the nature schematically depicted in FIG. 13. The sense core 102 is located with respect to the laminated teeth 37 so that air gaps 108, 109 (best seen in FIG. 11) are defined between the opposed surfaces of the adjacent teeth between which the probe 100 is disposed, and the respective ends of the sense core 102.

[0050] This probe arrangement provides enhanced versatility and reliability with which faults can be detected, reduces scan time, and is easy to handle. The basic principle of low level stator core excitation is similar to that of the above-mentioned EL CID, but an iron core probe is used for sensing the signals in the wedge depression area.

[0051] The use of a probe having a core formed of a magnetic material results in a significant increase in the signal level since the probe provides a low magnetic reluctance path for the flux. The measured probe voltage is 2˜3 orders of magnitude higher than that of an air core probe, such as a Chattock coil, due to the high flux concentration in the probe, resulting in improved signal to noise ratio of the voltage measurement. The probe is disposed in the wedge depression area with a total air gap of up to 200 mils on either side of the probe.

[0052] The maintenance of these air gaps is important to minimize noise being introduced into the output of the probe.

Excitation System

[0053] The stator core 30 is, as shown in FIG. 13, operatively connected with an excitation system 190. This excitation system 190 provides a circulating magnetic flux in the yoke of the stator core for fault current excitation. The excitation system comprises a single phase variac 191 and an excitation winding (31). An excitation system comprising a 120/240V single phase variac, excitation winding can be used. Alternatively, a single phase variac and a cable with at least 20A current conducting capability can also be used to excite the core.

[0054] A software program which is run in a personal computer (PC), which forms part of the circuit arrangement 106, calculates and displays the number of excitation winding turns (2˜7) and the excitation voltage that produces a desirable magnetic flux in the core. In order to conduct an example examination, the excitation flux can, for example, be controlled to about 0.075T (3˜4% of rated flux) and the excitation frequency can be controlled to about 50/60 Hz. However, this embodiment of the invention is not limited to these parameters and various others can be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0055] In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, the calculation of the excitation voltage and number of turns is based on the dimensions of the generator stator core. The parameters for calculation of the voltage and number of turns, examples of which are listed below, are those required for calculating the effective area for the circulating flux.

[0056] 1) Inner Diameter/Radius (ID/IR (in))

[0057] 2) Outer Diameter Radius (OD/OR (in))

[0058] 3) Tooth length (TL (in))

[0059] 4) Core Length (CL (in))

[0060] All the parameters can be obtained from the generator design sheets or easily measured. The effective core length can be assumed to be approximately 10˜90% of the core length unless otherwise specified since the inside space block and insulation must be taken into account.

[0061] It has been observed in field testing that scanning in a slot near the excitation winding 31 or when internal lighting is used, the noise distorts the signals obtained from the probe due to interference. Therefore, it is recommended that all the lighting (or the like type of electrical equipment) should be removed, and that the excitation winding 31 should be moved to the opposite side of the stator core 30 from the side being scanned at least once during scanning, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, so as to be distant from the probe and thus facilitate accurate measurements.

Probe Carriage System

[0062] In order to facilitate scanning, the probe is supported on a carriage system. An example of a carriage system is shown in FIG. 11. In this arrangement the carriage 200 is designed to suspend the probe in the proper position when scanning in the axial direction. Proper positioning and alignment of 1) the trolley (which forms part of the carriage system) to the generator teeth and 2) the probe to the trolley are important for obtaining accurate measurements.

[0063] Selecting the proper probe width is a trade off between signal level and ease of scanning. Increasing the probe width (viz., decreasing the air gaps) increases the signal level, but also increases the chance of contact between the probe core 102 and teeth between which is it disposed. Contact, of course, causes the signal to be noisy. The probe width, which has been experimentally shown to ensure good signal measurement and ease of scanning (no contact), is approximately the slot width minus 150 to 200 mils. For example, if the slot thickness is 1.286″ an appropriately sized probe would be anywhere between 1.10″ to 1.15″ wide.

[0064] The width and angle of the trolley wheels 213 can, as shown in FIG. 11, be adjusted by rotating the corresponding adjustment screws 210, 212 so that the trolley guidance plates 214 fit snugly against the outboard sides of the teeth 37, between which the probe is suspended, to prevent tilting of the trolley. The probe 100 should be securely attached to the probe extension piece 216 to avoid tilting and the measurement data becoming inconsistent.

[0065] Once the probe 100 is attached to the probe extension 216, the probe 100 should be located in the wedge depression area as shown in FIG. 11 by adjusting the two probe location adjustment screws 218. It is desirable that steel parts of the probe 100 be located at the center of the slot and slightly above the slot wedge.

Data Acquisition System

[0066] The two measurements which are taken in accordance with this embodiment of the invention are probe voltage and excitation current. These parameters can be measured using commercially available hardware, such as a Wavebook™ 516 portable data acquisition system marketed by IOTECH™.

[0067] The software program controls the settings of the data acquisition system and also processes, displays, and stores the data acquired from the scanning of each slot. The software consists of a parameter input screen and a main program screen. The parameter input screen records the details pertaining to the test information and the generator dimensions. The number of excitation winding turns and excitation voltage are calculated and displayed based on the generator dimensions. The main program screen displays the measured and processed signals.

Interpretation of Results

[0068] A phasor diagram is used to indicate the status of the inter-laminar core fault system. An example of such a phasor diagram is shown in FIG. 16. In this system V_(e), I_(e), and Φ_(e) represent the excitation voltage, current, and flux, respectively, and V_(s), V_(se) are the measured probe voltage and the probe voltage due the excitation.

[0069] For properly constructed, defect-free (healthy) laminations without faults, V_(s) and V_(se) are equal, as depicted in FIG. 16.

[0070] The software displays the magnitude of the measured probe voltage in RMS, V_(s), and the phase angle between the probe voltage and the derivative of the excitation current, θ. Both signals are calculated based on the measured probe voltage and current, and both signals are taken into account to determine the existence, severity, and location of the fault. For healthy laminations, the ideal measured signals and flux distribution are shown in FIG. 17. The dips in the voltage magnitude are caused by the inside space blocks. The magnitude of the voltage is constant except when passing the inside space blocks and the angle is constant throughout the scan. The dips at the inside space block can be counted to estimate the approximate location of the fault when a suspicious signal is found.

[0071] When a fault is present inside the slot, the flux distribution changes since the voltage induced in the fault, V_(f), causes a fault current flow, I_(f), that induces an additional fault flux component, Φ_(f), which changes the flux going through the probe. The phasor diagram under a sub-wedge fault condition is shown in FIG. 18, where V_(sf) is the measured probe voltage component due to the fault, and V_(s) is the measured probe voltage.

[0072] The measured probe voltage can be assumed as a phasor sum of the voltage component induced due to the excitation flux and the fault flux as shown in FIG. 18 which results from a sub-wedge fault. The typical waveform and flux distribution under this fault condition are as shown in FIG. 19. It can be seen in FIG. 19 that the magnitude change (i.e. increase) in the probe voltage is noticeable under this fault condition, but the angle change is very small. The fault signatures are similar when the faults are between the slot wedge dovetail and the tooth root.

[0073] The phasor diagram under a surface fault condition (fault on a tooth tip) is shown in FIG. 20. The main difference between a surface fault and a sub-wedge fault is that the fault flux in the probe opposes the excitation flux as shown in FIG. 21. As a result, the probe voltage magnitude decreases and the angle changes significantly.

[0074] As will be appreciated from the above examples, the existence of a fault can be determined by any deviation from a healthy signature. The location of the fault can be determined based on the magnitude and angle signatures. It has been observed that both the magnitude and angle change increase with the severity of faults.

[0075] As an alternative to the disclosed probe trolley arrangement it is possible to arrange a trolley or like type of small robotic vehicle to run along the top of the slot wedge in the manner schematically depicted in FIGS. 22 and 23. The trolley or vehicle 200S, in this instance, is supported on rollers 223 and also provided with side rollers 224 which roll along the inboard faces of the teeth 37 between the which the probe 100 is disposed and which can be adjusted to accommodate a change in the distance therebetween. The side rollers 224 can be spring loaded to allow automatic adjustment for differently spaced teeth. The length of the probe core can be rendered adjustable.

[0076] This trolley arrangement can be rendered to be totally robotic and provided with its own independent power source (e.g. batteries) and with a transmitter to relay sensed flux data to a remote station. By transmitting in a suitable frequency range, the data can be transmitted to the remote station without being effected by noise or the like.

[0077] The probe is not limited to structures which are totally enclosed by the side walls of the teeth 37. The coil 104 and other parts of the probe 100 can be configured as desired and located above the level of the teeth while suitable extensions of the core 102 project down into the space defined between the side walls of the teeth and thus establish the air gaps 108 and 109.

[0078] The core of the probe, which is solid as different from an air core such as used in the EL CID sensor arrangement, is preferably made of a material which is easy to work with, viz., is neither too hard, too soft nor difficult to shape, and which exhibits high initial permeability under low flux along with high resistivity characteristics. The core 102 can be made of a composite material, a suitable single material such as a metal, or formed of laminations which are secured together. For example, a suitable steel can be used and plates of this type of material (or a mixture of plates of different materials) can be bonded together in order to achieve both the desired shape and durability as well as the above mentioned high initial permeability under low flux and high resistivity characteristics. The core can be configured into any suitable configuration and is not limited to the illustrated shape which has been depicted as being essentially cylindrical for illustrative simplicity.

[0079] The probe is not limited to the use of a single core or a single coil and multiple cores and coils can be used. All cores need not pass through a coil and the arrangement which enables the required sensitivity of the flux in the air gaps 108 and 109 is within the purview of the invention. The coils per se of the probe need not be disposed between the teeth and the core can be configured to extend sensing portions thereof into the space between adjacent teeth and establish the necessary sensing portion-air gap relationship.

[0080] It should be noted that the air gaps 108 and 109 need not be equal and that a limited amount of movement of the probe with respect to the sides of the teeth 37 is therefore possible. Given that the total of the air gaps 108 and 109 remains constant and no direct contact between the ends of the core and the teeth occurs, accurate flux detection results are possible.

[0081] It will be appreciated that the invention has been described with reference to only limited number of embodiments. The invention is, however, limited only by the appended claims and can encompasses any number of variations and modifications without departure from the scope of protection defined by said claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A probe for detecting abnormalities in an electrical device having a structure through which leakage flux passes, comprising: a sense coil; and a probe core disposed with the sense coil and configured so that first and second sensing end portions of the core are supported in a spaced contact-free relationship between opposed adjacent surfaces of portions of the electrical device to form first and second air gaps between the first and second sensing end portions of the core and the respective surfaces adjacent thereto.
 2. A probe as set forth in claim 1, wherein a total of the first and second air gaps is constant.
 3. A probe as set forth in claim 1, wherein the core comprises a material having high initial permeability and high resistivity characteristics.
 4. A probe as set forth in claim 1, wherein the core comprises a plurality of laminated layers of a material and wherein the laminated layers have high initial permeability and high resistivity characteristics.
 5. A probe as set forth in claim 1, wherein the electrical device is a stator core of an electrical generator/motor.
 6. A probe as set forth in claim 5, wherein the stator core has a plurality of teeth which project inwardly into an interior of the stator core and wherein slot wedges are disposed between adjacent teeth.
 7. A probe as set forth in claim 6, further comprising a probe support carriage which is adapted to roll along a slot wedge.
 8. A probe as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a carriage which supports the probe so that the probe is adapted to move along a surface of the device and which maintains the probe in a position wherein the sensing end portions of the core are maintained in the spaced contact-free relationship between the opposed adjacent surfaces of the electrical device.
 9. A probe as set forth in claim 8, wherein opposed sides of adjacent teeth are the opposed adjacent surfaces of the portions of the electrical device and wherein the carriage has guide members which are adapted to contact the opposed sides of the adjacent teeth.
 10. A probe as set forth in claim 8, wherein the probe is mounted on an extension piece of the carriage which is adapted to be adjustable in length.
 11. A probe as set forth in claim 1, wherein the probe is supported on a carriage arrangement adapted to pass over a surface of a wedge member which is disposed between the opposed adjacent surfaces.
 12. A probe as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a circuit which is electrically connected with the sense coil and which is responsive to signal variations that are produced in response to the core being exposed to variations in leakage flux in the first and second air gaps.
 13. A probe as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a winding which is disposed with the electrical device and an energization source which energizes the winding in a manner which induces a flux in the device that produces a leakage flux.
 14. A probe as set forth in claim 13, wherein the energization source is adapted to energize the winding to a level whereat a flux, which is induced in the device, is a predetermined fraction of the flux which is induced in the device during normal operation thereof.
 15. A probe as set forth in claim 1, wherein the probe is adapted to move in a predetermined spaced, relationship over a surface of a member disposed between the adjacent projections.
 16. A method of detecting faults in an electrical device comprising the steps of: supporting a probe, having a solid core and a coil disposed with the core, so that sensing portions of the core are maintained in a contact-free, spaced relationship between adjacent surfaces of members which form part of the device and through which leakage flux passes; inducing energization of the device to a predetermined level which is lower than a normal operating level and thus produce leakage flux; detecting a leakage flux which occurs between the opposed surfaces using the probe; moving the probe to a new position with respect to the opposed surfaces and detecting a leakage flux at the new position; and monitoring the fluctuation in probe output and detecting a fault in response to the detection of an abnormal leakage flux.
 17. A method as set forth in claim 16, wherein the step of energization is carried out by disposing an energization winding about a predetermined portion of the electrical device and inducing a flux in a circuit defined by a structure of the device.
 18. A method as set forth in claim 16, wherein the step of moving the probe is carried out by supporting the probe on a carriage and moving the probe to the new position by moving the carriage along a surface forming part of the device.
 19. A method as set forth in claim 16, wherein the step of moving comprises the step of guiding the probe along in the predetermined spaced relationship with a member which is rigidly connected to, and which extends between, the opposed surfaces.
 20. An apparatus for detecting faults in an electrical device comprising: means for supporting a probe, which has a solid core and a coil disposed with the core, so that sensing end portions of the core are maintained in a contact-free, spaced relationship between opposed surfaces of members which form part of the device and through which leakage flux passes; means for inducing energization of the device to a predetermined level which is lower than a normal operating level; means responsive to the probe for detecting a leakage flux which occurs between the opposed surfaces; means for moving the probe to a new location with respect to the opposed surfaces and detecting leakage flux at the new location; and means for monitoring the fluctuation in probe output and determining a presence and location of a fault in response to the detection of an abnormal leakage flux fluctuation.
 21. An apparatus as set forth in claim 20, wherein the energization means comprises a winding disposed about a predetermined portion of the electrical device for inducing a flux in a circuit defined by a structure of the device.
 22. An apparatus as set forth in claim 20, wherein the means for moving the probe comprises a carriage on which the probe is suspended, the carriage being adapted to move the probe to the new position by moving along a surface forming part of the device.
 23. An apparatus for detecting faults in an electrical device comprising: a single probe having a core of a material having high initial permeability and high resistivity characteristics, and a coil disposed with the core, the probe being adapted to be supported so that all sensing portions of the core are maintained in a contact-free spaced relationship between predetermined opposed surfaces of the electrical device and so that the sensing portions of the core are exposed to leakage flux which is produced by the electrical device and which passes between the opposed surfaces and through air gaps defined between the opposed surfaces and the sensing portions of the core; an excitation winding removably disposed with the electrical device and operatively connected with a source of excitation voltage for inducing a flux in an electrical circuit in the electrical device; and a data acquisition system operatively connected with the excitation winding and the sensor coil for monitoring the output of the sensor and detecting faults in the electrical device which cause change in the leakage flux.
 24. An apparatus as set forth in claim 23, further comprising a probe support carriage, the carriage being operatively connected with the probe and adapted to support the probe so that the sensing portions of the core are maintained in the contact-free spaced relationship between the predetermined surfaces of the electrical device and so that the probe is moved through the electrical device to scan the electrical device for faults which produce a change in leakage flux. 